Arkansas: J Be K, The Daddy to stand at Trophy Club

The Arkansas breeding industry picked up two significant sources of speed for 2012 in J Be K and The Daddy. The stallions are standing at Trophy Club Training Center in Royal, the former Kilkerry Farm which was owned by the late Bob Holthus.

“We want to kind of follow like Bob did,” said Richard Hessee, who bought the property from Holthus. “He always had some nice stallions here in Arkansas. We want to keep improving the Arkansas-bred quality.”

J Be K comes to Arkansas from Florida. A Grade 2-winning son of Silver Deputy, he is now 7, and his first foals will hit the track this year. If they are anything like J Be K they should be precocious. He set a track record in his career debut at Saratoga as a 2-year-old of 2007, when he won a 5 1/2-furlong maiden special weight in 1:03. The next year he won three graded sprint stakes, including the Grade 2 Woody Stephens at Belmont Park.

“I think he’ll bring a lot of speed,” Hessee said. “And I think he’s very commercial. Some of his babies have sold for up to $80,000.”

J Be K will stand for $2,000.

The Daddy, a 10-year-old son of Valid Expectations, has moved to Arkansas from Kentucky. He earned a Beyer Speed Figure of 100 in his career debut, when he won a maiden special weight sprint at Hollywood Park in 2005. A few starts later, The Daddy used his good speed to win the Grade 2 Super Derby at Louisiana Downs on the front end, taking the race by a neck over A.P. Arrow. He will stand for a fee of $1,500.

“We’re expecting a pretty good book to both stallions,” Hessee said.

Hessee is looking for mares from Arkansas, Iowa, Oklahoma, and Texas to support J Be K and The Daddy.
The new stallions represent something of a fresh start for Trophy Club Training Center, which was hit by a tornado last April. There were no severe injuries to any of the farm’s residents or horses, but some of the structures and fencing had to be rebuilt. As a result, there is a brand new stallion barn in place for 2012, Hessee said.

The roster at the farm, which is located 12 miles from Oaklawn Park in Hot Springs, also includes Midway Road.

Banquet set for March 30

The Arkansas Thoroughbred Breeders’ and Horsemen’s Association will put on its annual banquet and awards program March 30, executive secretary Deana Echols said. The program will be held at the Clarion in Hot Springs. The association will recognize the state’s leading breeders and horses for 2011.

New to state for 2012

STALLION	PEDIGREE	FARM/LOCATION	2012 STUD FEE
Cherokee Triangle	Cherokee Run-Brief Bliss, by Navarone	S&K Thoroughbred Farm, Horatio	$500
J Be K	Silver Deputy-Major Wager, by Valid Wager	Trophy Club Training Center, Royal	$2,000
Mister Volare	Roscius-Rusty Adams, by Dr. Geo Adams	Crystal Creek Equestrian, Bismarck	$500
Stryker	Mr. Greeley-Slewzig, by Seattle Slew	McDowell Farm, Sparkman	$200
Texas Birdstone	Birdstone-Imatexantoo, by Ray's Pegasus	Hogue Farm, Hope	Private

New stallions for 2012

STALLION	PEDIGREE	FARM/LOCATION	2012 STUD FEE
Ordained	Pulpit-People's Princess, by Meadowlake	Starfish Stables, Hot Springs	$1,000